Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

David Kurten: To what extent do you support equality, diversity and inclusion in London?

The Mayor: When I published my Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy in 2018, I was clear that I wanted to do everything we can to overcome the barriers and inequalities that still hold back too many people in our city, including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination.
There have been significant achievements. Standing up for the Windrush generation, addressing access needs of older and disabled Londoners through transport network investment, adapting the built environment through the London Plan and the affordable housing programme. I recently announced over half a million pounds investment for civil society organisations supporting London’s disabled, BAME, LGBT+, and women’s communities.
This work has taken place against a challenging backdrop of deepening inequality for some groups, and the impact of Government policies such as the hostile environment, welfare reforms and austerity. I remain committed to creating a more equal, more integrated city that works for all Londoners.

Don't Be Idle (1)

Tony Devenish: On 2nd March Westminster Council held a ‘Don’t Be Idle’ action day around Marylebone Station with Chiltern Railways and the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA). At times the idling taxis traffic tailed back 250 metres all the way down Harewood Avenue and around the corner along Rossmore Road. What is TfL doing to control the chaos caused by very long lines of idling taxis at this location?

The Mayor: Reducing pollution from road vehicles is one of my top priorities. Transport for London (TfL) has so far licenced 3,372zero emission capable (ZEC) taxi vehicles, all of which will contribute to cleaning up London’s toxic air.
TfL does not have powers to enforce against engine idling because current legislation restricts this activity to Local Authorities and the police. Westminster City Council (WCC) is the Highways Authority for Harewood Avenue and Rossmore Road, and is therefore responsible for leading on action to prevent and enforce against engine idling.
TfL often conducts joint operations with local authorities to engage with and educate drivers on engine idling, and would be happy to work with WCC officers if requested through established channels between TfL and WCC.

Reducing Inequality in London Neighbourhoods

Leonie Cooper: A report by the Violence Reduction Unit entitled ‘Violence in London: what we know and how to respond’ found that ‘just over half of all the poorest neighbourhoods in London were also the poorest over a hundred years ago and gang territories identified today map on well to streets identified as poor in 1900.’ What work are you doing to tackle the deep-rooted inequality between neighbourhoods in London?

The Mayor: We are aware that violence is linked to inequality and have published research which shows a correlation between serious youth violence and the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
I am addressing London’s unacceptable high levels of poverty in a number of ways, which I’ve recently outlined to the Assembly here - https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/0172
I am also addressing the deep-rooted inequalities between neighbourhoods in a range of ways: through my £45m Young Londoners Fund supporting young people who are at risk of being affected by crime; programmes such as HeadStart Action which have a geographical focus on their work with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; and through my Violence Reduction Unit which works with communities to address the root causes of violence. My Good Growth Fund is helping to regenerate the most deprived parts of London, where, across the first two rounds of the Fund, 57 per cent of funding went to projects in the most income deprived wards in the country.

Zero Emission Cable vehicles for Driver Guides

Caroline Pidgeon: Recognising the significant role that that Driver Guides provide for both London’s and the UK’s tourism industry will you ensure TfL provides greater support to this industry as it moves over to Zero Emission Capable vehicles, including provision of guidance on vehicles that members of this industry should adopt?

The Mayor: I am taking bold action to clean up London’s toxic air. This has included cleaning up the bus fleet and the early introduction of the world’s first 24-hour Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London. Everyone in London must play their part, including private hire vehicles (PHVs) who offer a guides service.
Since the start of this year all PHVs under 18 months old must be zero emission capable (ZEC) and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard when licensed for the first time. From 1 January 2023 all PHVs licensed for the first time must be ZEC (and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard).
Transport for London has already published a list of vehicles that have been determined as meeting the new PHV ZEC requirements here: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/zec-phv-list.pdf
The list will be updated as new vehicles are identified.